Imprisoned in the Charenton asylum near Paris, the Marquis de Sade (Geoffrey Rush) continues to produce his notorious erotic writings. When he finishes his latest novel, ' Justine', the young chambermaid Madeleine (Kate Winslet) smuggles it out to be published. The authorities are shocked by the book & demand that de Sade be silenced, but even after he has been tortured & his pens & papers taken away, the Marquis carries on the fight to express himself.